Installing a Wire Raceway: 8 Tips

A wire raceway is a little similar to a conduit. It’s a channel or trough that’s covered and holds wires, giving them protection and keeping them out of the way. They make a home or workplace neater and also safer by not having loose wires around. It’s not especially difficult to install a wire raceway. There are tips that will help the whole procedure go faster and more smoothly.

1 - Planning

Planning is the key to everything when you install a wire raceway. Decide beforehand where you want it to go. That means which is the starting point and which is the finishing point. Also important is where it will travel. Will it be above a suspended ceiling or along the baseboard, for instance.

2 - Materials

A wire raceway will be available in metal, vinyl or plastic. Each has its advantages and disadvantages when it comes to joining sections and cutting. You need to look at your needs and decide which will be best for your particular needs. If the wire raceway will be inside then you’ll need to use plastic or vinyl. For an outdoor wire raceway, always use metal.

3 - Drilling

With a plastic or vinyl raceway, after you’ve dry-fitted the mold to the junction box, you need to fit the wire raceway where you want it to go. If it’s on a wall, mark the center of the clips you’ll use for attaching the wire raceway with a pencil. To attach the screw first drill into the wall and then screw the screws into place. The one thing you shouldn’t attach until everything else is done is any corner bend.

4 - Attaching

To attach the mold to the junction box, start by placing the mold over the box. Make sure you have the lower end of the wire in the clip’s groove and touching the bottom groove. To attach the mold to the clip, hit the top of the mold with a hammer. After you’ve done this you’re ready to attach the corner bend.

5 - Wires

When you run the wires through the wire raceway, you need to leave 12 inches on each end. This is the wire that will run into the junction box. When you’ve run it into the box, screw then end of the mold closed to keep the wiring in place in the wire raceway.

6 - Level

As you’re attaching the mold keep checking to ensure it’s tight and level. Keep using a spirit level to check this. If necessary, you might need to reposition the wire raceway slightly so it’s even.

7 - Size of Raceway

The size of wire raceway you use is dependent on the amount of wires you need to run. If it’s simply a couple of wires, then decorative raceway can be an option.

8 - Adhesion

Although most wire raceway will screw to the wall, you can all buy raceway that has an adhesive backing. The problem with this is that once fixed to a surface it can’t be moved, so you need to be certain you have it in exactly the right place.